WEBVTT 1 00:00:01.520 --> 00:00:07.919 This is the baseline discussing the hot button topics of the NBA. Welcome everybody, 2 00:00:07.919 --> 00:00:11.880 your tune to the baseline. Cali Warrenshaw discussing the hot button topics of 3 00:00:11.919 --> 00:00:16.000 the NBA. And so we have come to this. It is now down 4 00:00:16.039 --> 00:00:20.719 to two teams that will be competing for the Larry of Bryan Trophy. It 5 00:00:20.760 --> 00:00:25.839 will be the Bosson Celtics taking on the Dallas Mavericks to see who's gonna hold 6 00:00:25.879 --> 00:00:31.879 up that chip. So many interesting storylines that it's coming off of this matchup. 7 00:00:33.719 --> 00:00:38.159 But while the focus will be on the finals, we also have to 8 00:00:38.159 --> 00:00:44.640 make sure that we have to properly body up the two teams that unfortunately wound 9 00:00:44.719 --> 00:00:49.479 up getting waxed by the Celtics and the Mavericks. So this is a full 10 00:00:49.520 --> 00:00:52.320 slated edition of the baseline. And as always, let me go and roll 11 00:00:52.320 --> 00:00:55.200 out the red carpet. To my right here man Www Dot Shaw Sports at 12 00:00:55.200 --> 00:00:58.880 netwikahunap andc my ma and mister warren Shaw repping out of Fort Layda at Florida. 13 00:00:59.159 --> 00:01:03.640 What's good, mister Shaw? What what do you make of And if 14 00:01:03.640 --> 00:01:06.799 we go back to the beginning of the season where we did our predictions and 15 00:01:06.840 --> 00:01:14.159 everything like that. How are we looking so far in our assessments, our 16 00:01:14.280 --> 00:01:22.920 Calstra Damas assessments. I'm doing pretty well all things considered. I think, 17 00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:25.120 you know, going back, if we would have thought these would be the 18 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:29.920 two teams in the NBA Finals, one of them we expected or many expected. 19 00:01:30.000 --> 00:01:34.560 Vegas odds included in Dallas is the result of some massive changes at the 20 00:01:34.560 --> 00:01:38.439 trade deadline that have actually worked, you know, for a team in the 21 00:01:38.480 --> 00:01:42.280 short term. It paid off immediately. So I think in terms of that, 22 00:01:42.519 --> 00:01:46.519 you know, Dallas is maybe the surprise team, but by no way 23 00:01:46.920 --> 00:01:49.439 in shape or form are they now the team that is. I know there's 24 00:01:49.439 --> 00:01:53.120 still the underdogs in this series, but many will be picking them to win 25 00:01:53.159 --> 00:01:57.400 because they have what I would say is probably the two best offensive players in 26 00:01:57.400 --> 00:01:59.719 the series, not necessarily the two best players. We can obviously get to 27 00:01:59.719 --> 00:02:04.400 that ter on, but obviously Luke and Carie are are are immense to deal 28 00:02:04.439 --> 00:02:07.640 with. But this is a great, great situation I think for the NBA 29 00:02:07.319 --> 00:02:10.439 to get two of the potential phases of the league, if you will, 30 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:15.240 young guys, and Luca Dunchett and Jason Tatum be going up against each other 31 00:02:15.280 --> 00:02:17.000 here for both what would be their first NBA championship. Well, this is 32 00:02:17.000 --> 00:02:20.800 a win win situation, and to your point, we'll get into the preview 33 00:02:21.080 --> 00:02:23.199 in a moment. I'm gonna put the big L right on top of my 34 00:02:23.599 --> 00:02:28.360 forehead because I clearly put no faith in the fact that the Celtics were going 35 00:02:28.400 --> 00:02:30.319 to figure out a way to make it past year, because I had so 36 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:35.840 much faith in the idea that this was the revenge season for the Milwaukee Bucks. 37 00:02:36.240 --> 00:02:38.479 But we've already buried the Milwaukee Bucks. We ain't gonna get into that. 38 00:02:39.039 --> 00:02:43.840 I will say though, that because of what the Celtics have been able 39 00:02:43.879 --> 00:02:47.719 to accomplish this year and what the expectations are and have been for them through 40 00:02:47.719 --> 00:02:53.479 this season, it will enlighten me in the way that I am going with 41 00:02:53.879 --> 00:02:59.879 how we'll be doing our assessment of this NBA Finals. Either way you slice 42 00:02:59.919 --> 00:03:04.080 it it, it is gonna be musty TV because to your point, we 43 00:03:04.199 --> 00:03:12.199 have arguably some of the most dynamic offensive dynamic offensive players with so many different 44 00:03:12.240 --> 00:03:15.960 styles participating in this NBA Finals, and so we'll get into all of that. 45 00:03:16.159 --> 00:03:21.120 We'll also get into our coveted autopsy where we'll discuss the Indiana Pacers and 46 00:03:21.680 --> 00:03:24.759 in the Minnesota Timberwolves, you know, two teams respectfully. You know, 47 00:03:25.800 --> 00:03:32.800 you could say fought the good fight, but clearly they just ran into a 48 00:03:32.840 --> 00:03:39.000 better team, a better seasoned team or players that are better seasoned and are 49 00:03:39.120 --> 00:03:44.039 just ready for this and all of the chirpin, all of the you know, 50 00:03:44.080 --> 00:03:47.960 the talking and all that stuff can just you can't overlook the fact that 51 00:03:49.000 --> 00:03:53.199 they were gonna be tested, and they got tested. So we'll talk about 52 00:03:53.199 --> 00:03:55.319 both of those teams as well too in the autopsy report. As always, 53 00:03:55.319 --> 00:04:00.879 we appreciate everybody for hopping on boat with us. Be again my Manshawe as 54 00:04:00.120 --> 00:04:02.719 Sports NBA get at me a game face lead the shows, Twitter, NBA 55 00:04:02.759 --> 00:04:05.280 Baseline available on all the major platforms. You know where to find us. 56 00:04:06.039 --> 00:04:11.560 Go to www dot the Baseline NBA dot com to catch up with this episode 57 00:04:11.680 --> 00:04:15.479 and all of our previous episode, and you can also check us out on 58 00:04:15.520 --> 00:04:17.680 YouTube. If you see the blue and white logo in the top right hand 59 00:04:17.720 --> 00:04:21.199 corner, that is the nineteen Media Group. Nineteen Media Group family were running 60 00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:26.600 these content streets, so you can go to www dot ninetemediagroup dot com to 61 00:04:26.720 --> 00:04:32.439 check us and the family of great content creators that are covering your medulla and 62 00:04:32.480 --> 00:04:41.720 your earlops. Let's get right into it, Shaw, Let's talk NBA Finals 63 00:04:41.959 --> 00:04:48.000 preview Buses, Celtics Dallas Mavericks. One of the things that I think really 64 00:04:48.040 --> 00:04:53.079 stand out to me, and it's what I just mentioned earlier, is we 65 00:04:53.120 --> 00:05:02.720 are basically seeing four very unique styles of basketball played through these individuals between Tatum 66 00:05:03.079 --> 00:05:12.240 Brown, Donkic, and Kyrie Irving. And what may make this an absolutely 67 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:16.160 fun NBA Finals to witness is I think each and every single one of these 68 00:05:16.199 --> 00:05:23.000 guys will have their opportunity to shine that the way that each of these teams 69 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:27.000 play, which is very different from each other. And then we also have, 70 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:32.040 you know, supplemented characters, right the Chris STAPs, Porzingises, the 71 00:05:32.120 --> 00:05:36.759 PJ. Washington's, the Derek Lively, the Drew Holidays. There are so 72 00:05:36.839 --> 00:05:43.839 many casting parts, and I think it will be foolhardy if people's only focus 73 00:05:44.279 --> 00:05:48.480 is just on the star players who are obviously gonna come out and ball. 74 00:05:48.519 --> 00:05:54.720 But if they are balling, people need to watch for the supplementary players, 75 00:05:54.759 --> 00:05:59.759 the role players, because I think that there is more than enough opportunity for 76 00:05:59.839 --> 00:06:03.360 them to get their shine in this year's finals, I would agree with that 77 00:06:03.399 --> 00:06:08.480 one thousand percent. It's interesting because I think, like Dallas, the supporting 78 00:06:08.519 --> 00:06:13.600 cast started to I don't know, recess a little bit here in the conference 79 00:06:13.600 --> 00:06:15.519 finals, but maybe you'd expect that, and Luke and Curry had to do 80 00:06:15.560 --> 00:06:18.439 a lot of heavy lifting. But PJ. Washington wasn't the same guy that 81 00:06:18.480 --> 00:06:23.279 he was in the OKC series, and maybe you can't expect him to be 82 00:06:23.319 --> 00:06:26.319 that, right, But Derek Glaveley played a bitter role. And I think 83 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:30.439 this is where for me when we talk about basketball and you and I we 84 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:33.120 have this conversation all the time, like the focus is so much on the 85 00:06:33.160 --> 00:06:38.920 offensive side of the basketball, Like we don't talk enough about the intangibles and 86 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:47.360 screen setting and rebound. The Stars to score twenty eight and thirty and thirty 87 00:06:47.360 --> 00:06:51.600 five points a game. So Derek Glaveley being a capable passer as a rookie 88 00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:56.879 center is a big situation, you know, for the Dallas Mavericks. Daniel 89 00:06:56.879 --> 00:07:00.240 Gafford being a an elite level room protector is a great situation for the Dallas 90 00:07:00.279 --> 00:07:03.759 Mavericks. So I think, you know, those that's where this series can 91 00:07:03.800 --> 00:07:08.279 be won and lost. I think for both teams. Boston's bench has been 92 00:07:09.680 --> 00:07:14.759 i'd say average at best, especially as we've gotten into later rounds. We've 93 00:07:14.800 --> 00:07:17.360 seen less impact from guys like Sam Hauser, Payton Pritcher. I think it's 94 00:07:17.399 --> 00:07:21.439 still been relatively hit himself, but a lot of that is because Porzenkis has 95 00:07:21.439 --> 00:07:25.360 been out of the lineup for the last five weeks, and so Al Horford, 96 00:07:25.360 --> 00:07:27.639 who used to come off the bench, gives you a different, different 97 00:07:27.639 --> 00:07:30.480 look and different dynamic as well too. That should shift back, you know, 98 00:07:30.759 --> 00:07:34.000 to to normal state to some degree for Boston, whether Porzenkis ends up 99 00:07:34.040 --> 00:07:39.120 coming off the bench or Al does going back into his normal role. But 100 00:07:39.240 --> 00:07:42.800 I really do love that point in terms of the bench. Guys will have 101 00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:46.319 a lot to say about how this series goes as well. Obviously the main 102 00:07:46.360 --> 00:07:49.600 guys here, but it's the Holidays and Derek Whites, and I know they're 103 00:07:49.639 --> 00:07:54.120 not you know, they're not role players per se, they're elite starters, 104 00:07:54.600 --> 00:07:58.360 but they will have impacts on this series and it won't necessarily just be authensively. 105 00:07:58.879 --> 00:08:03.040 We'll get into our predictions in a little bit. Yeah, but I 106 00:08:03.079 --> 00:08:05.319 want to highlight a couple of things, not just in what you're saying, 107 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:11.199 but also where my thought process is going when I first started. The reason 108 00:08:11.240 --> 00:08:15.920 why I had brought this up just right off the bat is because this is 109 00:08:15.959 --> 00:08:20.040 the kind of NBA Finals that we hope to see, and it's been a 110 00:08:20.079 --> 00:08:24.279 while because everything that's been driven over the last i want to say, seven 111 00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:31.559 eight years with the NBA Finals has really been predicated on people getting theirs right. 112 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:39.000 Just like the narrative right now, Kyrie Irvin getting his without Lebron James, 113 00:08:39.399 --> 00:08:43.000 Luka Donkic, you know, proving that I mean, he to me 114 00:08:43.080 --> 00:08:46.039 had already proven and I had said this, I had predicted this. I 115 00:08:46.120 --> 00:08:52.360 thought that the Atlanta Hawks missed in getting Luka Donkic when that trade happened, 116 00:08:52.519 --> 00:08:56.639 and that the Mavericks struck Gold Okay, And again it's not a knock on 117 00:08:56.679 --> 00:09:01.120 Trey Young. I'm just saying for what the expectations were, this is what 118 00:09:01.240 --> 00:09:05.639 I was talking about. Now, if Luca can sustain this, we're there's 119 00:09:05.720 --> 00:09:11.600 gonna be a very very interesting discussion being had going into this next season about 120 00:09:11.639 --> 00:09:15.600 where we truly can see the greatness of Luka Donkic. Then we have Jason 121 00:09:15.639 --> 00:09:20.879 Tatum right miss this opportunity back in twenty nineteen, twenty twenty, right with 122 00:09:20.960 --> 00:09:24.840 the with this I'm sorry twenty twenty two, the opportunity to win a chip 123 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:31.559 Jalen Brown. Okay, all of these guys, wonderful, kudos to them. 124 00:09:33.559 --> 00:09:37.879 The thing that really stands out when I think about this final Shaw is 125 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:45.559 each of these guys and what they do and how they do it is going 126 00:09:45.960 --> 00:09:50.960 to determine how big of an impact their role players are if if you really 127 00:09:50.960 --> 00:09:56.960 think about it, the Busts and Celtics defensively have the equalizer to what teams 128 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:01.879 cannot do with a team. How the Mavericks are built. Okay, you 129 00:10:03.039 --> 00:10:09.480 arguably have four players that are back court slash front court style players in White, 130 00:10:09.120 --> 00:10:16.679 Holiday, Brown, and Tatum. You can interchange alternate and still be 131 00:10:16.720 --> 00:10:20.879 able to d up Luca and Kyrie Irving. And I'm not saying you're gonna 132 00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:24.879 shut them down. But what I am saying is you have the opportunity to 133 00:10:24.000 --> 00:10:30.679 give multiple looks defensively in the course of a game. Where as a coach, 134 00:10:30.759 --> 00:10:33.960 you don't have to lean on only Holiday sticking this guy, only White 135 00:10:33.960 --> 00:10:37.559 sticking that guy. You know what, this is an opportunity for the Jalen 136 00:10:37.600 --> 00:10:41.879 Browns and Jason Tatums to say, hey let me get that dude, Hey, 137 00:10:41.919 --> 00:10:45.519 I'm gonna lock them down on this key possession and have the confidence to 138 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:48.279 do it. You would think that that would be an advantage for the Boston 139 00:10:48.320 --> 00:10:52.399 Celtics because if you look at the rest of the other teams that were participating 140 00:10:52.440 --> 00:10:58.559 in this playoff situation, you cannot say with certainty that you had enough bodies 141 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:03.879 or you had enough match from a defensive perspective to be able to hold your 142 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:09.799 own against the team like how the Dallas Mavericks came into this this year's playoffs. 143 00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:15.200 Yeah, there's two points. I want to piggyback off of what you 144 00:11:15.200 --> 00:11:22.080 said, right, The stars in essence will help dictate how the how the 145 00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:26.240 role players can ultimately play, and that goes That's the case in every series. 146 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:31.919 But I think even more so so if Tatum and Luca get into the 147 00:11:31.960 --> 00:11:35.759 next phase of the league, I'm trying to be the MVP of the finals 148 00:11:35.919 --> 00:11:39.679 situation, that's probably not great for both teams, right, and I think 149 00:11:39.759 --> 00:11:43.399 both teams would not be playing to their what their advantages are in terms of 150 00:11:43.480 --> 00:11:46.159 spreading it around. And then if Luca's in that that means Kyrie's not getting 151 00:11:46.200 --> 00:11:48.039 as many touches, you know, being able to be the creative genius that 152 00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:52.159 he is with the basketball. So that's something I think that ultimately needs to 153 00:11:52.159 --> 00:11:58.039 be to be avoided, like immensely. So so I'm so concerned about that, 154 00:11:58.159 --> 00:12:01.240 you know, more from Tatum side, because of all the slanner that 155 00:12:01.320 --> 00:12:05.320 he's had in the Nine Days off here. As Boston leads up to it, 156 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:07.000 people don't know what to talk about, so they're figuring out ways we 157 00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:11.480 can, you know, pick apart the Celtics run so far and pick apart 158 00:12:11.519 --> 00:12:15.159 in some ways, Tatum and Brown I think as individuals while Luke and Kyrie 159 00:12:15.200 --> 00:12:18.519 are on this writing this kind of this media high and this coming of age, 160 00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:22.720 and Kyrie just hey, he's the redemption story. Like it's it's a 161 00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:26.639 very different narrative, I think from the are you're looking at it. And 162 00:12:26.919 --> 00:12:30.679 I'm not saying media is picking sides per se, because Boston is still favored 163 00:12:30.679 --> 00:12:33.919 to win the series, but in terms of the media darlings in this, 164 00:12:33.159 --> 00:12:39.279 the fan darlings of this, this is skewed tremendously towards Dallas's favor, which 165 00:12:39.320 --> 00:12:43.399 is an interesting I think development overall. That said, going back into you 166 00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:48.240 know the impact of what the role players will be able to do. Yes, 167 00:12:48.279 --> 00:12:50.200 Boston has the ability to defend in a way and love what you said 168 00:12:50.240 --> 00:12:52.240 in terms of like you know, and Joe Mozula said, two, we 169 00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:56.519 can't stop those guys, but you have to make it immensely difficult. You 170 00:12:56.639 --> 00:12:58.120 have to give them different books, and I think on the other end, 171 00:12:58.120 --> 00:13:01.960 you have to continue to go at them, which is not something Minnesota did 172 00:13:01.200 --> 00:13:07.879 a great job of and making Kyrie and Luca ultimately always having to defend on 173 00:13:07.919 --> 00:13:11.679 the other side. And to your point, this is where I fear where 174 00:13:11.679 --> 00:13:16.159 the Boston Celtics can give a game or maybe even the series away, because 175 00:13:16.399 --> 00:13:22.480 the Celtics are so dogged in the way that they want to execute offensively, 176 00:13:22.799 --> 00:13:26.679 which is let the threes fly. That I think at times you bail out 177 00:13:26.759 --> 00:13:31.600 a team like the Dallas Mavericks, who I think you can get them on 178 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:35.960 their heels, who I think you can get them reeling a little bit, 179 00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:41.279 get them shifting their energy sort of speak, to be very to be more 180 00:13:41.360 --> 00:13:46.279 disciplined in the one thing that we thought was very shaky until the two trades 181 00:13:46.320 --> 00:13:50.360 were made in getting PJ. Washington, and then the coming of A and 182 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:54.639 Gafford, and then the coming of age with with with Lively. You can 183 00:13:54.720 --> 00:14:03.039 neutralize these things if you do not just only you know, just chuck the 184 00:14:03.120 --> 00:14:05.879 three, you know what I mean. And when I say that, I'm 185 00:14:05.879 --> 00:14:09.679 not saying Celtics don't do what got them there them shooting the three and shooting 186 00:14:09.679 --> 00:14:13.960 at an effective clip. The Dallas Mavericks are gonna see what a team looks 187 00:14:15.039 --> 00:14:18.639 like when they can shoot the three. The Minnesota Timberwells, they can shoot 188 00:14:18.679 --> 00:14:22.399 the three when they had to shoot the three, but that was in you 189 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:26.759 know, on this streak that they were in in the playoffs. This isn't 190 00:14:26.799 --> 00:14:31.840 true that their personnel wasn't crafted so that they can be chucking the three like 191 00:14:31.879 --> 00:14:35.679 that. What you'll see what the Boston Celtics is, these dudes come in 192 00:14:35.799 --> 00:14:39.639 practicing chucking the three. They go to sleep chucking the three, They get 193 00:14:39.720 --> 00:14:43.799 up at the breakfast call chucking the three. They wave the taxi cab with 194 00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:46.159 the three. It's all gonna be about the three. But it's the type 195 00:14:46.159 --> 00:14:50.320 of threes that the Boston Celtics take that I think make a difference in the 196 00:14:50.399 --> 00:14:56.279 way that they will allow their offense to execute. If they're chucking a three 197 00:14:56.360 --> 00:15:01.440 with clean looks and bodies going to the basket because they know who's getting that 198 00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:07.200 good shot, the Celtics can out rebound, can give themselves opportunities, They 199 00:15:07.240 --> 00:15:11.919 can put themselves in the best position to take possessions away from the Dallas Mavericks 200 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:16.639 or more so, put more pressure on executing every possession that the Dallas Mavericks 201 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:20.559 have. But if the Celtics do what they were doing in the series against 202 00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:24.480 the Indiana Pacers and parts of the Cleveland Cavaliers series, which is then basically 203 00:15:24.600 --> 00:15:28.360 kind of like hanging around and watching Brown and Tatum dribble dribble, dribble, 204 00:15:28.559 --> 00:15:33.919 dribble the life out of the basketball, then take like a fly out of 205 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:39.240 nowhere three point shot with nobody crashing the boards. That's gonna be a problem 206 00:15:39.399 --> 00:15:43.480 because it'll bail out the Mavericks, and the Mavericks themselves will be in position 207 00:15:43.639 --> 00:15:48.720 where their role players can do what they were doing in that series against the 208 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:52.919 Minnesota Timberwolves. Yeah. For Boston, right, it's always about the quality 209 00:15:52.960 --> 00:15:56.399 looks that they get and are they getting the paint touches and they're getting things 210 00:15:56.600 --> 00:16:00.519 straight back out. From an outsider's point, and maybe even some from office's 211 00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:03.440 point, you might say, well, well, Gafford and Lively being somewhat 212 00:16:03.559 --> 00:16:06.639 elite at least in the playoffs in terms of the room protection, Boston's going 213 00:16:06.679 --> 00:16:07.759 to feel like there's no reason to go in there. But I think that's 214 00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:11.000 the exact opposite. You need to go in there. You need a challenge 215 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:14.519 and you need to get those defenses rolling and maybe potentially in foul trouble. 216 00:16:14.559 --> 00:16:17.200 Like neither one of those guys have been there before either, so how do 217 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:18.759 you know that they're going to just step up to the proverbial play? And 218 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:22.320 this is where Porzenis can play such a pivotal role because he can hit that 219 00:16:22.440 --> 00:16:26.360 mide, he can post up, and I think you need at least to 220 00:16:26.360 --> 00:16:30.799 have that optionality within your offense and be able to switch things up from time 221 00:16:30.840 --> 00:16:33.159 to time, which Mosola is now showing some tendency to do. They have 222 00:16:33.360 --> 00:16:37.600 gotten a little bit more creative in what they do, especially defensively, but 223 00:16:37.720 --> 00:16:42.559 even somewhat offensively, and that's where Porzingis to me, can really change the 224 00:16:42.639 --> 00:16:45.960 narrative from what we've seen even in the first three series with Boston where they 225 00:16:47.000 --> 00:16:49.639 have been you know, obviously four or five guys out and then it gets 226 00:16:49.639 --> 00:16:52.080 slowed down a little bit too much isolation, et cetera, et cetera. 227 00:16:52.320 --> 00:16:56.759 Porzingis unlocks the vertical threat, he unlocks you know that that that pinch post 228 00:16:56.840 --> 00:17:00.480 option if you will to back cut. You know, the driving cut game 229 00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:03.720 he had with Jaylen Brown. All those things kind of come back into play 230 00:17:03.960 --> 00:17:08.440 that can not necessarily neutralize. Gaffer them loudly, but they can't just protect 231 00:17:08.440 --> 00:17:11.039 the rim. They're going to have to be They're going to be involved in 232 00:17:11.079 --> 00:17:17.039 action, and I think that's how the Celtics ultimately can impact what is a 233 00:17:17.119 --> 00:17:21.160 much improved Dallas defense on that side of the basketball. Absolutely, your tunes 234 00:17:21.160 --> 00:17:25.279 of the baseline Cali warren Shaw discussing the hot button topics of the NBA coming 235 00:17:25.359 --> 00:17:29.400 up will give our predictions of who we think is going to hoist that trophy. 236 00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:33.920 And then we also got our coveted autopsy rapport. But first, are 237 00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:37.960 you ready to elevate your fantasy sports experience? With prize picks, you can 238 00:17:37.000 --> 00:17:40.839 win up to one hundred times your money during the most thrilling time of the 239 00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:45.680 basketball season. 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Y'all based one NBA podcasts. 265 00:19:19.400 --> 00:19:26.680 In our discussion NBA Finals preview, Dallas Mavericks Boston Celtics, only one 266 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:30.559 can hoist the trophy, so seaw we spoke about the dynamics, the twists 267 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:34.359 and turns, a lot of the storylines. I want you to give me 268 00:19:34.400 --> 00:19:40.160 who you feel to be your X factor for this series. Not the person 269 00:19:40.200 --> 00:19:41.960 that you're gonna be MVP. We'll get into that in a moment, But 270 00:19:42.039 --> 00:19:45.880 who do you find to be the X factor people should be looking at but 271 00:19:45.920 --> 00:19:51.839 probably aren't talking about. Who's gonna be a pivotal key and for both sides, 272 00:19:52.519 --> 00:19:56.319 the Dallas Mavericks and for the Boston Celtics. So I mean, I 273 00:19:56.359 --> 00:20:00.000 think we know some of the main players obviously, and I think from Dallas 274 00:20:00.160 --> 00:20:04.119 we've spent a lot of time talking about Gafford Lively's impact obviously, Luka Kyrie, 275 00:20:04.680 --> 00:20:07.680 I think it's going to be you know, PJ. Washington and Jayden 276 00:20:07.720 --> 00:20:11.200 Hardy, Like what are those two guys do as role players coming into this 277 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:15.079 series? Hardy is somebody who has the ability as Josh Creen like, they 278 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:18.599 have a lot of guys who they may be playing off off this bench, 279 00:20:18.119 --> 00:20:22.279 but Washington is obviously the starter here now and somebody who I think has the 280 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:27.319 ability to explode and can give you fifteen to twenty points a game. You 281 00:20:27.359 --> 00:20:32.519 know, if given open looks, if they lock in on the main two, 282 00:20:32.640 --> 00:20:36.640 if you will Boston does, Washington will have corner threes open all day 283 00:20:37.039 --> 00:20:38.839 not to mention Derek Jones, who's all of a sudden, you know, 284 00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:41.279 really kind of comes to life, especially when it comes to those corner threes. 285 00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:45.880 So Jason has a lot of weapons there. So but I'm gonna go 286 00:20:45.880 --> 00:20:48.240 with PJ. Washington as a guy. But I think Derek Derek Jones Junior, 287 00:20:48.359 --> 00:20:51.720 you know, probably being the secondary guy there. And from the Boston 288 00:20:51.799 --> 00:20:55.759 side, listen, I don't have a lot of faith in this bench in 289 00:20:55.799 --> 00:21:00.839 this series. And that's because I think if Houser and or Pitcher are out 290 00:21:00.839 --> 00:21:03.400 there, they're just gonna get picked on relentlessly. Uh. And that that 291 00:21:03.559 --> 00:21:08.000 gives me a lot of pause, uh to to for Joe Mozula to figure 292 00:21:08.000 --> 00:21:11.279 out a way to impact or to have an impact on this game with his 293 00:21:11.359 --> 00:21:15.400 bench, and I think it becomes more of a Derek White series, uh, 294 00:21:15.440 --> 00:21:19.079 and his ability to defend but also be a two way guy on on 295 00:21:19.079 --> 00:21:23.519 on the offensive side and shooting the three and getting guys involved with some level 296 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:27.279 of efficiency. Uh. I would hope to be wrong from the Boston side 297 00:21:27.279 --> 00:21:32.480 about that. I'd love to see Howser and Pritcher specifically have a direct impact 298 00:21:32.559 --> 00:21:36.960 on this series, but I am fearful of them just being hunted like dogs 299 00:21:37.359 --> 00:21:41.920 every single possession that they're out there where they become just completely unplayable. So 300 00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:45.079 to me, Derek Whitet Andrew Holliday obviously become like kind of more of the 301 00:21:45.160 --> 00:21:48.240 keys for Boston more so for what they can do defensively while still produce producing 302 00:21:48.279 --> 00:21:52.640 some offensively in an efficient manner. Yeah, you bring up two interesting players, 303 00:21:52.839 --> 00:21:57.119 uh, for the Dallas Mavericks. So I was gonna go Derek Jones 304 00:21:57.160 --> 00:22:00.920 and PJ. Washington. I think what versions of what they can give you 305 00:22:02.039 --> 00:22:07.920 offensively I think are key. Defensively, I think they'll be okay. However, 306 00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:11.799 I do know that when you're dealing with you know, with the Drew 307 00:22:11.839 --> 00:22:15.400 Hollidays, the Derek Whites or even the Jalen Browns of the world, that 308 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:18.200 they're going to cause problems and the style of play I think can be a 309 00:22:18.240 --> 00:22:22.559 problem for you know, for both Jones and for PJ. Washington. We'll 310 00:22:22.559 --> 00:22:26.759 see how discipline they stay out of foul trouble in order for them to be 311 00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:30.960 on the floor for maximum minutes for Jason Kids to utilize, you know, 312 00:22:30.079 --> 00:22:33.920 his roster the way he wants to. I'm going to say the X factor 313 00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:36.680 Shaw and it's not going to be a player. It's gonna be Joe Mizula 314 00:22:36.920 --> 00:22:41.640 for the Boston Celtics and how he deploys, you know, his role players 315 00:22:41.640 --> 00:22:44.480 and how he deploys this roster. And the reason why I say this is 316 00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:48.480 because we saw in this last series when the Celtics took on the Indiana Pacers, 317 00:22:48.480 --> 00:22:52.240 and we saw also again when the Celtics took on the Cleveland Cavaliers that 318 00:22:52.319 --> 00:22:56.960 there is clearly a problem with leaving Al Hawford out on an island on the 319 00:22:56.960 --> 00:23:00.160 pick and rolls. And the fact that I found that, to me, 320 00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:07.200 this is actually a better matchup for Al Hawford in the way that he's playing 321 00:23:07.240 --> 00:23:12.200 his defense that he can actually it will not hurt as badly like if he 322 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:18.240 was playing against, say the Denver Nuggets, if he was playing against the 323 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:22.200 Minnesota Timberwolves, this would be a problem. You know, athletic bigs, 324 00:23:22.279 --> 00:23:27.319 movable bigs. My question is is, you know, if Hawford is going 325 00:23:27.359 --> 00:23:33.640 to get extended minutes, right, how badly will the Dallas Mavericks look to 326 00:23:33.640 --> 00:23:37.799 take advantage of that of that situation at scenario, this is where I wanted 327 00:23:37.799 --> 00:23:41.799 to see Joe Missoula actually throw out Tillman throw out a couple of different other 328 00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:45.960 looks, and he started doing that. I want to see how long he 329 00:23:47.200 --> 00:23:51.799 rides the Hawford wave. I'm not knocking Halford. I want people to understand 330 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:56.799 Hawford is a valuable player and he brings value to this basketball team. However, 331 00:23:56.079 --> 00:23:59.839 there comes a point in time, and we've seen this all across. 332 00:24:00.119 --> 00:24:04.920 If you play sports, just because you're a season vet guy and there's loyalty 333 00:24:04.960 --> 00:24:07.359 there and they see you as a team captain doesn't mean that if you're trying 334 00:24:07.359 --> 00:24:11.240 to win a championship, you leave somebody out there. So he actually becomes 335 00:24:11.240 --> 00:24:15.960 more of a liability than an asset to your team. And there has to 336 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:18.799 be a point where Jomozula has to recognize where Hawford is actually going to be 337 00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:22.680 hurting the Celtics rather than helping the Celtics. Now that you have Porzingis, 338 00:24:23.039 --> 00:24:26.880 there should be no reason why you're still leaving him out there in matchups and 339 00:24:26.920 --> 00:24:33.079 situations where clearly he compromises what you need defensively then what you're asking of him 340 00:24:33.119 --> 00:24:37.759 offensively. The Celtics got more than enough guys to shoot the three. Not 341 00:24:37.880 --> 00:24:40.599 that I don't want Hawford to shoot, but that's all that he does. 342 00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:42.839 He doesn't give you anything down on the blox. So if you need players 343 00:24:42.839 --> 00:24:48.440 to go down there and get the opposing team in foul trouble, I want 344 00:24:48.440 --> 00:24:52.759 to see Missoula with conviction, pull the guys and put them in there to 345 00:24:52.799 --> 00:24:56.920 set up those situations rather than relying on someone that's throw up hail Mary three 346 00:24:56.960 --> 00:25:02.599 point shots or throw up three point shots in order to absolve what they're not 347 00:25:02.680 --> 00:25:06.240 giving you on the defensive end of the basketball court. That's just me. 348 00:25:07.240 --> 00:25:10.400 Oh, let me just tap in on that one really quickly, because I 349 00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:14.400 think we're al can be effective if it's not necessarily you know, if if 350 00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:17.240 he too also gets hunted defensively, that's not the thing. Let's not mention 351 00:25:17.519 --> 00:25:21.559 Porzingis could also get hunted defensively coming yackly. You don't think Luca's gonna be 352 00:25:21.559 --> 00:25:22.880 like, you know, come here, let me see what them leg's about, 353 00:25:23.279 --> 00:25:26.440 Like, like there's gonna That means there has to be with Boston trying 354 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:30.119 to figure those things. There has to be more aggressiveness on it. If 355 00:25:30.880 --> 00:25:33.359 over the switch, like to just say, screw the switch. I'm getting 356 00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:37.759 over this and I don't care if if if Luca gets down, let him 357 00:25:37.759 --> 00:25:40.440 get down, let him get down deep, let him you know what, 358 00:25:40.519 --> 00:25:41.920 We'll get to the one last part before we get to our predictions, but 359 00:25:42.119 --> 00:25:47.079 finish your point on that. Yeah, But what I think where Al can 360 00:25:47.119 --> 00:25:52.559 be impactful is if he can give Boston extra possessions because while the yes, 361 00:25:52.640 --> 00:25:55.519 Boston is gonna shoot a lot of threes, they've got to figure out a 362 00:25:55.599 --> 00:25:59.319 ways to rebounance some of those threes. Andrew Drew Holliday, who and Derek 363 00:25:59.359 --> 00:26:02.640 White like those guys can get some of those long rebounds. We've seen Holiday 364 00:26:02.640 --> 00:26:04.839 come up with some immense rebounds too, but all specifically, if he can 365 00:26:04.880 --> 00:26:10.039 figure out a way to be a plus offensive rebounder in this series, that 366 00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:11.680 can be immense for Boston, you know, because I don't think they're going 367 00:26:11.720 --> 00:26:15.000 to be overly efficient. You know, we haven't seen the Celtics, you 368 00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:22.079 know, fifty three point shooting in the playoffs here, and while I know 369 00:26:22.119 --> 00:26:26.079 they are so confident in that they have room to get there, I don't 370 00:26:26.119 --> 00:26:29.799 know that that will magically appear in the NBA Finals. So rebounding as is 371 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:33.079 always key, but offensive rebounding, I think for Boston can really really change 372 00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:36.640 the dynamic of the series, and I'll hope for it as a guy who 373 00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:38.480 might be able to do just that. So one other thing that I wanted 374 00:26:38.519 --> 00:26:41.720 to bring up Shaw and I think this is key and I'm going to say 375 00:26:41.720 --> 00:26:45.759 this is a positive negative type situation here is on the Dallas Maverick side. 376 00:26:47.079 --> 00:26:53.039 Listen, the magic of Luca and Kyrie is phenomenal to watch, and at 377 00:26:53.079 --> 00:26:56.839 the same time it could also be a tragedy as well too. Those guys 378 00:26:56.880 --> 00:27:00.400 are going to have the ball in their hands. Those guys are prone to 379 00:27:00.400 --> 00:27:04.960 turn the basketball over. If the Celtics force Luka, Donkic and Kyrie Irving 380 00:27:06.640 --> 00:27:11.799 to rush themselves into what they don't want, it opens opportunities for the dollar 381 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:17.279 for the for the Boss and Celtics, you know, to defensively hunker down 382 00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:19.519 and force guys who are not ready to take the shot to take the shot. 383 00:27:19.920 --> 00:27:23.039 It's kind of come a little easy because maybe those other teams, like 384 00:27:23.079 --> 00:27:30.160 the Timberwolves, you know, like the Oklahoma City Thunder, it came easy 385 00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:33.599 for them to to you know, to excuse, you know, hey, 386 00:27:33.720 --> 00:27:37.559 they're not gonna hit that shot like that, We're gonna leave them, don't 387 00:27:37.640 --> 00:27:41.839 don't think that that's the case. If they are setting their guys up with 388 00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:45.200 confidence to put them in the best position possible to shoot the kind of shot 389 00:27:45.240 --> 00:27:48.400 they know that they can shoot, that's exactly what they're gonna do. But 390 00:27:48.480 --> 00:27:52.519 if you're the Celtics and you force them to have to make that second or 391 00:27:52.559 --> 00:27:56.640 third option to let the clock wind itself down to such a degree without fouling, 392 00:27:56.680 --> 00:28:00.960 now to such a degree where they're they're they're hesitance to do the things 393 00:28:02.000 --> 00:28:04.799 that they think that they're gonna do. It's almost like the Celtics anticipating what 394 00:28:06.119 --> 00:28:08.000 Luca and Kyrie are trying to do. You put them in that type of 395 00:28:08.039 --> 00:28:12.839 situation, they will turn the ball over because great players do that. They 396 00:28:12.880 --> 00:28:18.400 have It's almost like it's a trigger in their head of perfection. You know, 397 00:28:18.440 --> 00:28:22.119 it's the utopian effect of playing sports. You want everything to fall right 398 00:28:22.119 --> 00:28:26.599 in a place because you can see it before it even happens. And sometimes 399 00:28:26.599 --> 00:28:29.640 somebody, somehow, some way, the way that the ball swings, the 400 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:33.720 play itself will will shift that narrative and now you gotta think differently. And 401 00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:37.359 for Luca, this is a different animal because it is the NBA Finals. 402 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:41.759 He game close. Now he's in it. And if you think about the 403 00:28:41.880 --> 00:28:48.920 numbers between Hey, Tatum, Brown, Holliday White, all of these guys 404 00:28:48.039 --> 00:28:52.720 have seen and smelt it what it's like to be in the finals and to 405 00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:56.119 come up short or not come up short with Holiday winning the chip. But 406 00:28:56.480 --> 00:29:00.200 they know what it's like right to be in that situation. Luca doesn't, 407 00:29:00.480 --> 00:29:03.920 Kyrie does. That's a lot of weight to just put on one dude for 408 00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:08.039 him to bring along a guy like Luca and the rest of that team to 409 00:29:08.119 --> 00:29:14.039 a situation, to a place that they're unfamiliar with. So it's going to 410 00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:17.759 be an interesting dynamic to see. Yeah, well the Celtics can find a 411 00:29:17.759 --> 00:29:22.839 way to have Luca and Kyrie just continue to coin a phrase from Mark Jones 412 00:29:22.839 --> 00:29:26.799 and like they're do it yourself kits the entire series where they they lose confidence 413 00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:30.039 in those role players and those other guys that plays to the Celtics, you 414 00:29:30.079 --> 00:29:34.480 know, p verbal advantages, But I'm just not sure if Boston is going 415 00:29:34.480 --> 00:29:38.359 to be able to get enough of good offensive looks. And I think this 416 00:29:38.559 --> 00:29:42.559 series for Boston Standpoint needs to be more in the low hundreds. While they've 417 00:29:42.559 --> 00:29:45.720 been a score a team that scores in the one hundred and ten hundred and 418 00:29:45.720 --> 00:29:48.519 fifteen or whatever. I don't think you want to get into an offensive, 419 00:29:48.599 --> 00:29:51.839 you know, shootout with Luca and Kyrie leading the Helm on the other side 420 00:29:51.880 --> 00:29:55.960 of the basketball. But this Dallas team is very well equipped. Jason Kidd 421 00:29:56.000 --> 00:29:59.319 has done an amazing job to get them this far. It takes, you 422 00:29:59.319 --> 00:30:02.400 know, big brass balls to be sitting Tim Hardaway Junior down in this situation 423 00:30:02.440 --> 00:30:04.039 as well too. He's like just not out of the rotation, and I 424 00:30:04.039 --> 00:30:07.200 think, you know, if things were to go arise, it's a it's 425 00:30:07.240 --> 00:30:10.039 a card he could play, you know, later on in the series in 426 00:30:10.119 --> 00:30:12.680 order to try to get space shot give a different twa Junior doesn't play in 427 00:30:12.680 --> 00:30:17.200 the series, I'd be shocked. Yeah, I mean I'm shocked he's not 428 00:30:17.240 --> 00:30:18.799 playing at all. But I mean exactly that too. And I think with 429 00:30:18.880 --> 00:30:22.720 Dallas, because in getting Cleber back was was was immense and while he's not 430 00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:26.000 quite himself, you know, all this time off should hopefully get him back. 431 00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:29.960 I made a joke knowing to believe of Celtics podcast. It looks like 432 00:30:29.960 --> 00:30:33.799 he literally has like a like a gun holster on his shoulder. He knows, 433 00:30:33.799 --> 00:30:36.200 so he's having a hard time letting that thing, you know, fire. 434 00:30:36.240 --> 00:30:37.839 But you know, with this time off, he might be able to 435 00:30:37.839 --> 00:30:41.480 come back there and give them another spacing threat as well too. And then 436 00:30:41.519 --> 00:30:44.119 you have three, you know, three you know, six ten seven foot 437 00:30:44.160 --> 00:30:48.279 guys who you can deplay out there at all at all times, and that 438 00:30:48.279 --> 00:30:51.880 gives Dallas a distinct advantage. I just don't know if Mozulla will be able 439 00:30:51.920 --> 00:30:55.680 to kinteract that and in what way does he because do they go small, 440 00:30:55.920 --> 00:30:59.160 you know, just take him play some more five in this series, all 441 00:30:59.240 --> 00:31:03.240 those things are I'm I'm I'm eager to kind of watch out and see because 442 00:31:03.279 --> 00:31:07.559 I think this is a very evenly two very evenly matched up teams with a 443 00:31:07.599 --> 00:31:11.359 lot to prove, especially when it comes to the legacy of some two superstars 444 00:31:11.400 --> 00:31:14.920 and Luca Donkins and and Tayson Tatum. All right, what you got now? 445 00:31:15.880 --> 00:31:18.720 Yeah, So I'm dubling this, you know, the finals of legacy 446 00:31:18.720 --> 00:31:23.440 and supremacy and uh, you know, I'm I'm gonna go Homerism here. 447 00:31:25.039 --> 00:31:27.440 Uh And and I think if things go the way they're supposed to go in 448 00:31:27.559 --> 00:31:33.359 terms of Boston's overall depth, uh, they can win this thing in six. 449 00:31:33.839 --> 00:31:37.119 Uh, I don't trust them in a seven game series, not not 450 00:31:37.200 --> 00:31:40.720 having the best offensive player on the floor. And again I think Tatum is 451 00:31:41.319 --> 00:31:45.319 maybe he's still not the best player player in the series, but I don't 452 00:31:45.319 --> 00:31:48.480 think it's as far away as people are saying, because again Lucas Lucas offense 453 00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:52.240 is so far superior, but Tatum's defense is a thousand times better than Lucas. 454 00:31:52.400 --> 00:31:56.839 So Tatum I think can be one of the, if not the best 455 00:31:56.839 --> 00:32:00.720 player in the series. He doesn't need to do that on the offensive offensive 456 00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:02.039 side to prove that. Does that make sense? Yeah, so I got 457 00:32:02.039 --> 00:32:06.960 Celtics in six, but you know this is going to be a hard, 458 00:32:07.079 --> 00:32:09.000 hard, hard fought series. Yeah, it's gonna be a hard fought series. 459 00:32:09.039 --> 00:32:14.119 I have the Celtics in seven. I know that this sounds crazy when 460 00:32:14.119 --> 00:32:19.519 people were asking me about you know, wouldn't I want the Minnesota Timberwolves more 461 00:32:19.559 --> 00:32:22.279 than I would want the Dallas Mavericks And I just honestly feel like I would 462 00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:27.880 want the Dallas Mavericks more not you know, again, there's ancillary things, 463 00:32:27.920 --> 00:32:30.960 you know, the whole Kyrie situation in Boston. It's not about any of 464 00:32:31.000 --> 00:32:37.319 that It's about the matchups. It's about where the opportunities are for what your 465 00:32:37.359 --> 00:32:42.599 team does so well that that it's priority that they do it well. And 466 00:32:42.640 --> 00:32:45.759 it's easy because you know who you're dealing with in order for you to do 467 00:32:45.799 --> 00:32:49.720 it well. To me, this has always been about the Celtics defense. 468 00:32:49.799 --> 00:32:52.599 This has never been about their offense. Okay. And the only reason why 469 00:32:52.680 --> 00:32:58.359 I excuse me, bitch, and complained about the way that the Celtics operate 470 00:32:58.480 --> 00:33:04.480 offensively is because it just feels like there's this laxa daisicalness that tends to also 471 00:33:04.599 --> 00:33:09.400 affect what they do defensively. It doesn't make them a good team from a 472 00:33:09.400 --> 00:33:14.079 transitional standpoint when they're just camping around a three point line. I think, 473 00:33:14.160 --> 00:33:17.200 because now they're playing in this type of series, almost like it's mirroring what 474 00:33:17.319 --> 00:33:22.079 happened to them against the Golden State Warriors, it is going to force them 475 00:33:22.079 --> 00:33:27.759 to step up and be engaged every single second minute of this NBA Finals and 476 00:33:27.799 --> 00:33:31.599 to not squander the opportunity. And for me, giving the Dallas Mavericks seven 477 00:33:31.680 --> 00:33:37.559 games, to your point, I don't know if I completely trust the Celtics 478 00:33:37.559 --> 00:33:39.960 in a seven game series, but I have to trust that in a seven 479 00:33:40.000 --> 00:33:46.279 game series, the Celtics, barring anyone getting injured in some freak accidents happening, 480 00:33:46.599 --> 00:33:51.680 the Celtics have the horses to put the pressure on a team like the 481 00:33:51.799 --> 00:33:57.400 Dallas Mavericks. They have the matchups that they can interchangeably work to their advantage. 482 00:33:57.440 --> 00:33:59.920 And I think that, to me is going to be the key if 483 00:34:00.680 --> 00:34:04.240 we want to validate whether or not Joe Missoula deserves to be the head coach 484 00:34:04.279 --> 00:34:07.680 he deserves, you know, and if they win, give this man his 485 00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:10.119 flowers, because where most of us question whether or not he was making the 486 00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:14.559 right call of the right moves, it's got him this far. Now, 487 00:34:14.599 --> 00:34:16.840 I think it's going to be ultimately tested against a good head coach like Jason 488 00:34:16.920 --> 00:34:22.400 Kidd. And we can argue about the fact that the Dallas Mavericks may have 489 00:34:22.480 --> 00:34:27.599 actually a better depth better like a team more deep when one hundred percent healthy 490 00:34:27.880 --> 00:34:30.599 than the Boston Celtics. But if Missoula deploys his players out there, and 491 00:34:30.679 --> 00:34:35.599 those guys go out and execute when it matters the most and do the things 492 00:34:35.639 --> 00:34:38.960 that are necessary for them to get these wins, I'll ride the Boss and 493 00:34:39.000 --> 00:34:45.519 Celtics in this one going seven, All right, well, this is a 494 00:34:45.559 --> 00:34:47.239 great matchup. I think for him it's a pick them, it's a prize 495 00:34:47.280 --> 00:34:52.079 pick em, yeah, pick more, pickless for sure. And I do 496 00:34:52.159 --> 00:34:57.320 hope. I hope we get a great series, and I hope we don't 497 00:34:57.360 --> 00:35:00.840 get too much of the you know, machismo if you will, Like we 498 00:35:01.159 --> 00:35:04.639 want to see bravado, right, but we don't want to see it be 499 00:35:04.639 --> 00:35:08.000 at the detriment of good team basketball. And I think that's where, you 500 00:35:08.039 --> 00:35:14.840 know, I'm slightly concerned from Boston standpoint, because there's there's nobody questioning, 501 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:17.440 like as great as Kyrie is, no one's questioning whether Kyrie is better than 502 00:35:17.519 --> 00:35:21.679 Luca. Kary's not questioning that like Lucas, like the clearly the guy. 503 00:35:22.159 --> 00:35:24.519 Just because Jylen Brown won the Eastern Conference MVP is like, oh, we're 504 00:35:24.559 --> 00:35:28.400 back to that stage in Boston. Is Jalen Brown better than Jason Tatum, 505 00:35:28.440 --> 00:35:31.400 who's more class Again, that's like that there's a lot of noise. There's 506 00:35:31.400 --> 00:35:36.199 a lot of noise, unfortunate and it's unfortunate out to get the champions. 507 00:35:36.400 --> 00:35:39.159 It's unfortunate noise that's being I think where it's coming from, I think is 508 00:35:39.159 --> 00:35:43.159 the problem sh'all. Like, if it's the fandom, that's one thing. 509 00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:46.880 But when it's coming from the main media, the mainstream media outlets, it's 510 00:35:46.920 --> 00:35:51.480 almost as if it's like a slap in the face for the people who really 511 00:35:52.119 --> 00:35:55.719 truly improperly understand the dynamic of how we get to this point now with the 512 00:35:55.840 --> 00:36:00.159 NBA Finals, Look, I'm not disrespecting Jaylen Brown winning the Eastern because he 513 00:36:00.199 --> 00:36:05.039 deserved it. He was the best player in that damn series, point blank 514 00:36:05.119 --> 00:36:07.519 period. That does not mean that if the Celtics are going to win this 515 00:36:07.679 --> 00:36:15.000 championship, then it has to be on Jason Tatum being offensively effective, efficient 516 00:36:15.239 --> 00:36:22.320 and impactful, and he's also contributed on other aspects with rebounding and assists. 517 00:36:22.440 --> 00:36:25.360 These are the little things. To me, is why we're talking about this 518 00:36:25.480 --> 00:36:30.239 and saying this is such a great series when you match up the Celtics and 519 00:36:30.239 --> 00:36:34.159 the Mavericks, because it's not just gonna come down to who's scoring more points, 520 00:36:34.360 --> 00:36:36.559 you know what I mean? Like that, To me, it's gonna 521 00:36:36.599 --> 00:36:39.320 come down to all of the other things. The hustle points, the clutch 522 00:36:39.360 --> 00:36:42.880 points, all of that stuff, all of the things that we get nerdy 523 00:36:42.920 --> 00:36:45.920 about with the analytics. Now is the time that you guys want to feel 524 00:36:45.000 --> 00:36:49.320 validated for why these things are even in place while we talk about them. 525 00:36:49.480 --> 00:36:52.599 Here's your opportunity and chance, because you're getting it from two teams that have 526 00:36:52.679 --> 00:36:59.960 been embedded in it all the way up until the very last series left. 527 00:37:00.320 --> 00:37:02.400 All right, your tune to the baseline. Cali warrens Shaw discussing the hot 528 00:37:02.400 --> 00:37:06.960 button topics of the NBA coming up, Sean, I got two teams to 529 00:37:07.000 --> 00:37:10.599 body up and our coveted autopsy report. We talked Pacers and Timberwolves. Don't 530 00:37:10.599 --> 00:37:16.239 go away, We are back. Cali Warren Shaw discussing the hot button topics 531 00:37:16.280 --> 00:37:21.960 of the NBA and our coveted autopsic report. Just finished talking NBA Finals preview 532 00:37:22.000 --> 00:37:24.679 between the Celtics and the MAVs. So let's go right into the uh, 533 00:37:24.800 --> 00:37:28.480 let's get it. Let's get our hands dirty, Shaw. You know our 534 00:37:28.519 --> 00:37:31.320 hands were pretty clean then when we started talking Finals. Now let's get them 535 00:37:31.360 --> 00:37:37.360 dirty with our autopsy report talking Pacers and Timberwolves. So we'll first talk about 536 00:37:37.400 --> 00:37:40.760 the Indiana Pacers. Shaw. Look, you could make this the Cinderella story 537 00:37:40.840 --> 00:37:45.400 for what they were able to accomplish this season. I don't think anybody expected 538 00:37:45.400 --> 00:37:50.960 the type of turnaround when looking in totality the way that the Indiana Pacers just 539 00:37:51.000 --> 00:37:54.159 came out of the gate them, you know, getting to the n season 540 00:37:54.159 --> 00:38:02.719 tournament finals, them basically participated in the Eastern Conference finals. Look, man, 541 00:38:02.880 --> 00:38:08.119 the future is absolutely bright for the Indiana Pacers if we can see them 542 00:38:08.199 --> 00:38:13.079 replicating what they were able to do. They've obviously got a lot to work 543 00:38:13.119 --> 00:38:17.480 on, okay when it comes to their their personnel, their roster, and 544 00:38:17.599 --> 00:38:22.880 how they are defensively against other teams. But I don't think anybody can question 545 00:38:23.000 --> 00:38:29.639 that this style of offense their Carlisle is deployed, is implemented with Halliburton at 546 00:38:29.719 --> 00:38:32.519 at at captaining this thing. This is the kind of offense that I think 547 00:38:32.599 --> 00:38:38.480 Indiana Pacers fans faithful and the end of Indiana Pacers themselves gonna be loving for 548 00:38:38.519 --> 00:38:43.280 the next few years. And who knows, they might actually draw some free 549 00:38:43.280 --> 00:38:46.480 agency attention. They want to come run up and down the court like freaking 550 00:38:46.599 --> 00:38:50.719 thoroughbreds, you know, night in, night out through the course of a 551 00:38:50.760 --> 00:38:54.480 regular season. I mean, well, it all starts with them being able 552 00:38:54.519 --> 00:38:59.079 to retain Siakam, And you don't figure they don't make that move understanding that 553 00:38:59.119 --> 00:39:01.199 he's you know, the wink wink agreement that he'll at least stay there. 554 00:39:01.400 --> 00:39:04.639 You know, would probably sign you know, a four, four or five 555 00:39:04.719 --> 00:39:07.320 year max as long as that happens. Yes, you know, this team 556 00:39:07.480 --> 00:39:10.239 should be right back in the thick of thick of things. I know a 557 00:39:10.239 --> 00:39:13.639 lot of people don't feel like they deserve to be here. And yes, 558 00:39:13.760 --> 00:39:16.519 they faced a hobbled Milwaukee team, and then by the time they got out 559 00:39:16.519 --> 00:39:20.559 of the Knicks series, the Knicks basically had you and I playing And I 560 00:39:20.639 --> 00:39:23.440 understand all of those things, but there's nothing to take nothing away from their 561 00:39:23.480 --> 00:39:28.800 ability to score the basketball. Uh. They they they didn't improve defensively, 562 00:39:29.079 --> 00:39:32.119 especially after the n season tournament. Ricarala realized like that was the only way 563 00:39:32.119 --> 00:39:36.239 that this was going to be tenable for them to have a deep playoff runt, 564 00:39:36.400 --> 00:39:39.079 and those things happened. And they also didn't have Benedict Mathurin, you 565 00:39:39.119 --> 00:39:43.760 know, a key wing player for them who they were intended to rely on. 566 00:39:44.119 --> 00:39:45.440 So this guy is the limit, if you will, I think for 567 00:39:45.519 --> 00:39:51.519 this Spacers team again. Siakam returning, Matthroom coming back healthy, what do 568 00:39:51.559 --> 00:39:53.480 they do with Obi toppin, you know, not quite sure. They're uh, 569 00:39:54.400 --> 00:39:58.960 they have McConnell a contract for one more year and them haard to somebody 570 00:39:59.000 --> 00:40:00.679 who think they were gonna want to try to integrate more, especially what he 571 00:40:00.679 --> 00:40:05.199 saw him do in the last part of the then conference finals there too. 572 00:40:05.519 --> 00:40:09.440 And I like Isaiah Smith Isaiah Isaiah Jackson, sorry, and obviously Aaron Ee 573 00:40:09.440 --> 00:40:14.079 Smith as well too, So to me, they have the nice balance of 574 00:40:14.679 --> 00:40:19.559 role players, all star level talent and coaching that can be a problem in 575 00:40:19.719 --> 00:40:23.519 some conference apps for many a couple of things. I don't know what people 576 00:40:23.559 --> 00:40:28.039 are complaining about, you know, with what happened between the Pacers and the 577 00:40:28.079 --> 00:40:30.719 Knicks. I agree, you know, the Knicks didn't have enough bodies, 578 00:40:30.760 --> 00:40:37.480 but damn it, this is what happens when you have a team that loves 579 00:40:37.519 --> 00:40:40.960 to run and a team that really doesn't love to run. Okay, you 580 00:40:42.039 --> 00:40:45.719 run them out the gym, you run them into injury, you force the 581 00:40:45.760 --> 00:40:49.440 coach to run them to the ground. Okay, I mean that's unfortunately, 582 00:40:49.480 --> 00:40:52.760 that's what happened, and that's part of the dynamics of the different coaching styles 583 00:40:52.760 --> 00:40:57.280 in the NBA. So I don't want people, you know, taking away 584 00:40:57.880 --> 00:41:01.880 what the Indiana Pacers earned and what they did in that semi finals matchup against 585 00:41:02.199 --> 00:41:05.880 the New York Knicks. You know what I'm saying. And if you were 586 00:41:05.880 --> 00:41:08.719 the Boston Celtics, you did exactly what you were supposed to do against a 587 00:41:08.760 --> 00:41:13.280 team that lost their top player. You forced the other guys to do what 588 00:41:13.320 --> 00:41:15.800 they were not capable of doing. That's what teams do. So I just 589 00:41:15.840 --> 00:41:20.360 think that people have to pump the brakes a little bit on whether or not. 590 00:41:20.400 --> 00:41:22.360 Now if you want to say what the Indiana Pacers can they do through 591 00:41:22.400 --> 00:41:25.679 the course of a regular season. Okay, now with this constructed roster, 592 00:41:27.000 --> 00:41:30.639 let's go. But I can guarantee you this there's not gonna be a whole 593 00:41:30.639 --> 00:41:34.440 lot of variation from what you saw the second half of the season with Siakam 594 00:41:34.440 --> 00:41:38.119 in this roster from what you will see going into next season. And that's 595 00:41:38.159 --> 00:41:43.360 what's gonna make the Indiana Pacers a dangerous basketball team. They've got young legs 596 00:41:43.840 --> 00:41:49.559 and they actually have a legit deep roster. They can go one through twelve. 597 00:41:50.000 --> 00:41:55.000 It's a question of how does Carlisle make these necessary adjustments. Who's gonna 598 00:41:55.199 --> 00:42:00.960 improve come next year? Like take the next leap because because I can guarantee 599 00:42:00.000 --> 00:42:05.400 you something Shaw to me, I think something was raised and elevated. While 600 00:42:05.440 --> 00:42:09.199 aaron Ne Smith tough minded kid, love them to death, inst inconsistency shooting 601 00:42:09.199 --> 00:42:16.360 that basketball, we saw Nemhart take a step forward as as somebody who might 602 00:42:16.480 --> 00:42:22.519 actually be better as a starter next to Halliburton. Okay, and then you've 603 00:42:22.519 --> 00:42:28.039 got McConnell in the backup Nie Smith if he figures out a way to be 604 00:42:28.079 --> 00:42:30.679 a solid wing guy like could be like that bulldog, you know, and 605 00:42:30.719 --> 00:42:36.000 you can maybe operate with three guards if if necessary. So there's a lot 606 00:42:36.039 --> 00:42:38.480 to play with with with with the way Carlock instructure, can you know, 607 00:42:38.559 --> 00:42:43.840 can kind of form this this this roster they're starting five. You can even 608 00:42:43.880 --> 00:42:46.039 start Siakam at the five, you know what I mean. So there's a 609 00:42:46.079 --> 00:42:49.960 lot of ways you can go. And that versatility doesn't come about until you 610 00:42:50.000 --> 00:42:52.800 see what you saw from the Indiana Pacers, you know, in this run 611 00:42:52.840 --> 00:42:58.480 that they made. Yeah, I think this is a team that will run 612 00:42:58.519 --> 00:43:01.079 it back if you will like this next year, get back in to as 613 00:43:01.079 --> 00:43:04.519 a little too. But Miles Turners on the last year, vis Deil going 614 00:43:04.559 --> 00:43:07.400 in next year, so they will have some decisions to make and think is 615 00:43:07.440 --> 00:43:12.000 that as as well TJ McConnell, as those guys get deals done this year 616 00:43:12.079 --> 00:43:14.679 over the course of the summer in terms of those extensions, but uh, 617 00:43:14.719 --> 00:43:16.360 they have some time and as since to at least play itself out and say, 618 00:43:16.400 --> 00:43:19.559 like, all right, who are we really? And I like the 619 00:43:19.599 --> 00:43:23.679 idea of Haliburt and Nemhard, Matherin and Turner being your starting five next year 620 00:43:23.840 --> 00:43:29.320 with you know, with super super great role players. Again we always have 621 00:43:29.360 --> 00:43:31.480 about it doesn't be like the most offensive minded guy coming off your bench, 622 00:43:31.480 --> 00:43:36.280 but energy guys like McConnell and Nei Smith coming off your bench, Like that's 623 00:43:36.559 --> 00:43:39.239 huge for them. And then again you know you get Isaiah Jackson coming off 624 00:43:39.239 --> 00:43:43.360 that bench. Ben Shepard s sold some some some chops here this year as 625 00:43:43.400 --> 00:43:45.079 well too. And then if you keep over topping. So I think you 626 00:43:45.119 --> 00:43:49.599 have a nice you know eight nine guys who, like you said, allows 627 00:43:49.639 --> 00:43:52.000 the pacers to just really come at you in waves and keep the energy up 628 00:43:52.079 --> 00:43:55.599 at all times no matter who was out there. Uh, nothing to hang 629 00:43:55.719 --> 00:44:00.000 their head at this year, great great season. You know, hope Haliburton 630 00:44:00.119 --> 00:44:02.800 can can stay healthy, you know, moving into the lot of parts of 631 00:44:02.840 --> 00:44:06.039 his career here or the next stage of his current lot of parts, but 632 00:44:06.039 --> 00:44:09.000 the next age of his career and then getting everybody some other opportunities to continue 633 00:44:09.039 --> 00:44:12.960 to shine there. I think Carlisle is an underrated coach. I think everyone 634 00:44:12.960 --> 00:44:15.760 knows he's a good coach, but just how good he was to get them 635 00:44:15.800 --> 00:44:19.679 this far. But I know he a lot of a lot of people say 636 00:44:19.719 --> 00:44:22.719 Mosula out coach him in the Eastern Conference finals, especially when it came to 637 00:44:22.760 --> 00:44:24.840 l late game execution. But those are things too. I think as you're 638 00:44:25.000 --> 00:44:28.920 commanding and leading a new team, he'll be better at that, you know, 639 00:44:29.119 --> 00:44:30.960 even himself going into next year. So sky's a limit for the Indiana 640 00:44:31.000 --> 00:44:34.320 Pacers, man, I think they're gonna be right. One last point, 641 00:44:34.880 --> 00:44:38.199 and it's something that I'm very curious of. Clearly we know that this is 642 00:44:38.280 --> 00:44:45.880 Tyre's Halliburton's team. And one of the things that I think really helped Halliburton, 643 00:44:45.159 --> 00:44:49.880 you know, elevate himself into super into you know, star status. 644 00:44:49.960 --> 00:44:52.440 Right. I'm not gonna jump out yet and just say superstar, but help 645 00:44:52.519 --> 00:44:57.559 him come out and star status is this platform of what he basically did against 646 00:44:57.559 --> 00:45:00.719 the New York Knicks right like, it's taken him to like another level. 647 00:45:00.000 --> 00:45:05.800 The one thing that I think is going to concern me is let's remember too 648 00:45:06.440 --> 00:45:10.880 that the Indiana Pacers really roll the dice and bringing a guy like Pascal Siakam, 649 00:45:12.239 --> 00:45:15.159 I think Pascal Siakam in Indiana is a perfect place. I cannot I 650 00:45:15.239 --> 00:45:20.599 do not see Pascal Siakam being that kind of guy like ogn Andobi was to 651 00:45:20.599 --> 00:45:24.000 the New York Knicks, right like, I see him in a way where 652 00:45:24.039 --> 00:45:30.039 in a small market he can really elevate himself and he can run alongside and 653 00:45:30.119 --> 00:45:36.039 help build and fortify what that future could look like. Haliburton has to be 654 00:45:36.159 --> 00:45:42.480 very careful that he doesn't he doesn't stargaze himself to the point that he's forgetting 655 00:45:42.519 --> 00:45:45.000 the dudes that are riding with him. You know what I'm saying, Like 656 00:45:45.519 --> 00:45:49.280 I think he wants to, he just wants to. I'm just saying he 657 00:45:49.280 --> 00:45:52.199 should tread a little carefully, you know what I mean? Because come next 658 00:45:52.239 --> 00:45:57.519 year, you know, they're gonna be expectations, right, everybody is expecting 659 00:45:57.559 --> 00:46:02.119 the Pacers to usurp the Milwaukee Bucks next year. They think that, you 660 00:46:02.159 --> 00:46:06.400 know, the Pacers prove that they can play the Milwaukee Bucks, and we 661 00:46:06.400 --> 00:46:08.360 don't know what version of Milwaukee Bucks are going to be coming this coming in 662 00:46:08.400 --> 00:46:14.880 this offseason, but I really am going to be interested to see how Halliburton, 663 00:46:15.159 --> 00:46:19.800 now on this level, on this tier, really galvanizes and pushes his 664 00:46:19.880 --> 00:46:22.960 team, force focuses, get his team focused, and see if all of 665 00:46:22.960 --> 00:46:27.000 them are all on that same page with the expectations of getting right back to 666 00:46:27.039 --> 00:46:29.920 the same place that they were that they just got exited out of, which 667 00:46:29.960 --> 00:46:35.960 is the Eastern Conference Finals. Because I really think that stardom hits differently, 668 00:46:36.480 --> 00:46:42.119 especially in small markets, especially when you have executives making the kind of deals 669 00:46:42.119 --> 00:46:49.159 and moves that they've just recently made to really bolster this basketball team. Yeah. 670 00:46:49.199 --> 00:46:52.639 Well, I mean that's a cautionary tale there too, is that I 671 00:46:52.639 --> 00:46:54.599 can't remember it Holiburton make the Olympic team because even that, I think, 672 00:46:54.639 --> 00:46:57.679 you know, if he has the opportunity, even if it's just to go 673 00:46:57.719 --> 00:47:00.199 to the camp in the summer, yeah, I mean, continue to to 674 00:47:00.840 --> 00:47:04.199 sharpen his skills, if you will, Those things in terms of being around 675 00:47:04.280 --> 00:47:07.800 those guys who are also leaders on their respective organizations, can can trickle back 676 00:47:07.800 --> 00:47:09.119 into what he brings to Indiana next time. All right, Chaw, let's 677 00:47:09.119 --> 00:47:14.440 go ahead and move right on over to the next slab, which is the 678 00:47:14.440 --> 00:47:20.400 Minnesota Timberwolves. They unfortunately, you know, people could say they ran out 679 00:47:20.440 --> 00:47:25.239 of gas. They just were outmatched. They were probably too high on the 680 00:47:25.239 --> 00:47:30.239 hog of knocking off the defending champions. But the Minnesota timber Wolves had to 681 00:47:30.280 --> 00:47:35.760 exit stage left against really, you know, one of the most formidable backcourt 682 00:47:35.800 --> 00:47:39.599 combinations that we'll probably see in our lifetime or our generation, with Luka Dank 683 00:47:39.639 --> 00:47:44.880 and Chikyrie Irving and this Dallas Mavericks team which just played on another level. 684 00:47:45.360 --> 00:47:51.360 And while I give kudos to Anthony Edwards, a kid all but twenty two 685 00:47:51.440 --> 00:47:54.760 years old, you know, who basically came out of nowhere and took a 686 00:47:54.800 --> 00:48:00.400 team that was arguably supposed to be Karl Anthony Town's team, I honestly feel 687 00:48:00.440 --> 00:48:05.519 like, if you are the Minnesota Timberwolves, I think you should be very 688 00:48:05.679 --> 00:48:14.079 very leary about how this team is being set up and think about what you're 689 00:48:14.079 --> 00:48:19.320 building around. Are you building around Anthony Edwards or are you building around Anthony 690 00:48:19.360 --> 00:48:23.400 Airwards, Karl Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert. And I'm gonna tell you right 691 00:48:23.440 --> 00:48:30.400 now, if I'm talking to Minnesota timberwol fans and Minnesota Timberwold executives, be 692 00:48:30.480 --> 00:48:34.960 careful how I worded that question, because whatever a response you give to me 693 00:48:35.400 --> 00:48:38.840 and to anyone who hears that question might actually be the undoing of your team 694 00:48:38.880 --> 00:48:45.880 for the next five or six years. Wow. Wow, you know, 695 00:48:45.960 --> 00:48:50.320 Kyle. Here's my thing. So I've had the opportunity to speak on a 696 00:48:50.360 --> 00:48:52.719 couple of different platforms more recently here obviously playoffs, picking up or whatever, 697 00:48:52.800 --> 00:48:58.480 and the turmber Wolves came up on one show I was on, and it 698 00:48:58.639 --> 00:49:01.199 was like, yeah, Timbrels are ef an expensive, you know, one 699 00:49:01.280 --> 00:49:05.239 hundred and eighty six million dollars in committed salary. They need to resign. 700 00:49:05.320 --> 00:49:07.800 Colin Anderson probably need to resign, you know, Moni Morris as well too, 701 00:49:08.519 --> 00:49:12.599 and that pushes them over whatever. Right, But now it's the cat 702 00:49:12.719 --> 00:49:15.440 question. It's Kat really a true number two, etcetera, etcetera, et 703 00:49:15.440 --> 00:49:20.039 cetera. My thing is like, what's the difference between Minnesota and Sacramento, 704 00:49:20.559 --> 00:49:24.599 right in terms of like they haven't had prolonged success, so now that they 705 00:49:24.760 --> 00:49:28.519 finally had a little bit of success, we're talking about breaking them up. 706 00:49:28.760 --> 00:49:31.719 I can't get there. I can't. And I understand that Kat didn't perform 707 00:49:31.840 --> 00:49:36.679 to the level that many many would have expected a fifty million player, fifty 708 00:49:36.719 --> 00:49:39.480 million dollars year player to do. I get that as well. But Ant 709 00:49:39.559 --> 00:49:44.760 is also only twenty two, and I think his ability to step into more 710 00:49:44.800 --> 00:49:47.199 of the alpha role, which he's already as you lited to snatch from Kat 711 00:49:47.239 --> 00:49:50.000 and Cat had to be like, you know what, Bro, you got 712 00:49:50.039 --> 00:49:52.480 it. I think that's something that you need to at least play out, 713 00:49:52.800 --> 00:49:57.159 at least for another season. I don't think you're going into the summer say 714 00:49:57.239 --> 00:49:59.880 hey, we need to shop Karl Anthony Towns and again, as always, 715 00:50:00.000 --> 00:50:01.199 if you get an offer, you can't refuse. Fine, I get all 716 00:50:01.280 --> 00:50:05.760 that, but you haven't made the conference finals in twenty plus years, you 717 00:50:05.800 --> 00:50:07.559 know, before this two years ago, he hadn't made the NBA playoffs, 718 00:50:07.760 --> 00:50:10.320 you know, and have very many years before that as well too. So 719 00:50:10.519 --> 00:50:13.639 I just think it's like, all right, well, once you start to 720 00:50:13.639 --> 00:50:16.440 get a little bit of success, now it is my terminology, everyone wants 721 00:50:16.440 --> 00:50:17.880 to throw a cellar. Well, now, so what you gotta do? 722 00:50:17.920 --> 00:50:20.159 And you got to do it? This way, you got to do this 723 00:50:20.199 --> 00:50:24.039 way, and you could very easily reverse skate by by tinkering too much. 724 00:50:24.360 --> 00:50:29.239 And I think, you know, with Towns and Gobert proving everybody wrong from 725 00:50:29.320 --> 00:50:32.000 last year, remember that, because I think everyone's forgotten that there's no way 726 00:50:32.000 --> 00:50:35.639 this can work. They got to trade one of those two guys. They 727 00:50:35.639 --> 00:50:38.239 stilled the course and got to the Western Conference Finals and upset the NBA champions. 728 00:50:38.559 --> 00:50:43.320 So why isn't grace given to the Timberwolves in essence to continue to play 729 00:50:43.360 --> 00:50:46.079 themselves out here a little bit at least for another year. So despite the 730 00:50:46.159 --> 00:50:49.320 salary that, yeah, I know it's going to command, but if the 731 00:50:49.320 --> 00:50:52.880 ownership, you know, if he pulled the contract, he will from from 732 00:50:53.199 --> 00:50:57.119 a rod In company, because hey, they were tough about potentially breaking this 733 00:50:57.119 --> 00:50:59.639 team up, well that means to me that, hey, you know what 734 00:50:59.760 --> 00:51:02.159 they they want to see what this team can ultimately do. And I think 735 00:51:02.159 --> 00:51:06.440 that should be a parted and not just credit. Okay, to make the 736 00:51:06.480 --> 00:51:10.280 reason why I ask that question, Shaw is because you have to think about 737 00:51:10.320 --> 00:51:15.440 where the hierarchy sits with this team. And the reason why I say that 738 00:51:15.559 --> 00:51:19.679 is because if let's just say we use the comparison of the Boston Celtics. 739 00:51:20.639 --> 00:51:24.800 You can make the argument that Jason Tatum and Jaylen Brown came in hand in 740 00:51:24.840 --> 00:51:29.440 hand. They literally were like one year apart from each other when it came 741 00:51:29.480 --> 00:51:32.320 to the draft. Okay, so they grew up and went through their growing 742 00:51:32.360 --> 00:51:40.119 pains together. Okay. If we are believing that you're building the team around 743 00:51:40.239 --> 00:51:45.519 Anthony Edwards, I'm not saying break up call Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert. 744 00:51:45.639 --> 00:51:53.719 I'm saying, make sure that what you're building around is maximizing Anthony Edwards being 745 00:51:54.000 --> 00:51:59.559 the guy who is helping and hurt, you know, putting this like helping 746 00:51:59.639 --> 00:52:02.159 us, Heather, if you want to say, Mike Conley is kind of 747 00:52:02.199 --> 00:52:06.960 like that Drew Holliday for you. I'm all with that. I'm not saying 748 00:52:07.360 --> 00:52:10.239 just totally trash at all. But what I am saying is when you've got 749 00:52:10.239 --> 00:52:15.559 guys chirping who don't need to be chirping, when you got guys saying things 750 00:52:15.559 --> 00:52:19.800 that really don't need to be saying stuff, that's when you know it's on 751 00:52:20.800 --> 00:52:22.880 Anthony Edwards and the rest of those guys is like, Hugh, that's not 752 00:52:22.920 --> 00:52:25.119 how we do this. That's not how this is gonna play. That's not 753 00:52:25.199 --> 00:52:29.199 how we got to where we got to, okay, And so the reason 754 00:52:29.199 --> 00:52:32.519 why I brought off all of this shaw is because you have to address the 755 00:52:32.679 --> 00:52:38.519 situation that will come about when you have Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert on the 756 00:52:38.559 --> 00:52:44.000 floor at the same time with the type of matchups now that you're seeing when 757 00:52:44.000 --> 00:52:47.880 they play against the Dallas Mavericks, when they play against Listen that was on 758 00:52:49.360 --> 00:52:53.920 the Denver Nuggets and they just had nobody after their starting five. But you 759 00:52:54.000 --> 00:52:59.719 can be rest assured if they re up with what they've got for their starting 760 00:52:59.760 --> 00:53:02.320 five and they actually add those role players that needs to be on there, 761 00:53:02.679 --> 00:53:07.719 are we really going to be having the same kind of conversation about how both 762 00:53:07.800 --> 00:53:13.119 Towns and Rudy Gobert executed in what they were supposed to be doing through the 763 00:53:13.159 --> 00:53:15.159 course of this run. It's not to say that the Timberwlves didn't deserve to 764 00:53:15.199 --> 00:53:17.800 be here, Sean. What I'm saying is, don't get too high on 765 00:53:17.840 --> 00:53:22.519 the hog because of what you did this season that we've seen them go ahead 766 00:53:22.559 --> 00:53:25.400 and tail spin their ass right back to where they started from. Remember, 767 00:53:25.480 --> 00:53:30.400 it wasn't too long ago the Timberwolves had been in the playoffs, and then 768 00:53:30.440 --> 00:53:35.360 they wind up being the second to worst team in their own division the following 769 00:53:35.400 --> 00:53:39.119 season with the same star players. So that's what I'm saying is, if 770 00:53:39.159 --> 00:53:44.320 you know who your alpha is, your alpha has to be on these guys 771 00:53:44.519 --> 00:53:49.000 to be like, Hey, let's assume that we got lucky, and let's 772 00:53:49.079 --> 00:53:52.000 prove the people that this is firm, this is true, you know what 773 00:53:52.039 --> 00:53:54.599 I'm saying. And I don't think it's so much is about the money as 774 00:53:54.679 --> 00:53:59.000 much as it is the mentality. When it comes to the Minnesota Temberwolves, 775 00:54:00.280 --> 00:54:05.039 well, I don't think they have an identity problem in terms of An or 776 00:54:05.159 --> 00:54:08.239 Kat or Gobert or Conley. Connelly understands, Hey, I'm I'm the veteran 777 00:54:08.280 --> 00:54:12.199 guy, the stabilizing force, the old head. You know, these young 778 00:54:12.199 --> 00:54:15.320 guys are keeping me exactly that. You know, these young guys are keeping 779 00:54:15.360 --> 00:54:17.960 me young, you know. And And is the vocal and on the court 780 00:54:19.039 --> 00:54:22.239 leader here, and Kat provides some sibilance of perspective as a guy who's been 781 00:54:22.239 --> 00:54:25.039 in the league for a little while himself here too, but he knows they 782 00:54:25.079 --> 00:54:30.480 only go as Aunt goes. And Ant is going to continue to go further 783 00:54:30.639 --> 00:54:32.840 each year because he's going to see and he has seen. Now, hey, 784 00:54:32.840 --> 00:54:36.079 what does it mean to be the guy? What does it mean to 785 00:54:36.119 --> 00:54:37.880 be the guy in the playoffs, the conference finals? You know, sweeping 786 00:54:37.920 --> 00:54:42.800 Kevin Durant and Devin Booker is a huge accomplishment. Beating the defendant champions is 787 00:54:43.159 --> 00:54:46.360 a huge accomplishment. Losing in five games in the Western Conference Final maybe not 788 00:54:46.400 --> 00:54:50.960 a huge accomplishment, but getting there is an accomplishment in itself. And now 789 00:54:51.000 --> 00:54:53.679 he has the understanding to me, it is what they were debunking at the 790 00:54:53.760 --> 00:54:58.119 end of that Nugget series. I think Vincent Goodwill had asked him, and 791 00:54:58.239 --> 00:55:00.320 usually young teams need to go through the and the cat and they're like, 792 00:55:00.360 --> 00:55:04.880 well, we've already done losing. They were writing maybe a little bit too 793 00:55:04.960 --> 00:55:07.760 high at that point. Maybe a little bit too high at that point, 794 00:55:07.800 --> 00:55:09.760 And now they know what Vincent Goodwoo was starting to ask them in that section, 795 00:55:09.840 --> 00:55:13.079 like, hey, we still have some lumps to take, and now 796 00:55:13.679 --> 00:55:16.199 we've taken our lumps. My last point is, you know, show how 797 00:55:16.239 --> 00:55:20.920 I am about this idea that you got to go and always get players sometimes 798 00:55:20.920 --> 00:55:25.639 instead of letting the players mature. I'm gonna say this because I think this 799 00:55:25.760 --> 00:55:30.039 to me is to your point is going to be important. And because they 800 00:55:30.039 --> 00:55:35.159 are going to be salary strapped, cap strapped, it's gonna leave very little 801 00:55:35.239 --> 00:55:37.880 room. But if you are the Minnesota Sembils, you need to address getting 802 00:55:37.960 --> 00:55:44.559 a veteran big guy, a sound defensive big guy who can come in and 803 00:55:44.599 --> 00:55:49.360 can really help both go Beart and both Carl Anthony Towns. And the reason 804 00:55:49.400 --> 00:55:52.760 why I say this is because while this team was great defensively, especially in 805 00:55:52.840 --> 00:55:59.320 their playoff runs, the foul trouble that both Gobert and Karl Anthony Towns got 806 00:55:59.320 --> 00:56:02.199 themselves in. And when I say this, I say this to be respectful 807 00:56:02.400 --> 00:56:06.880 because it's what happens. But there comes a point where this no longer is 808 00:56:07.000 --> 00:56:09.320 okay. I can do it on my own or they're gonna figure it out. 809 00:56:09.639 --> 00:56:13.280 You need to either put a body on there to show you how it 810 00:56:13.320 --> 00:56:17.920 gets done in those situations, or you need a player presence to show them 811 00:56:17.960 --> 00:56:22.519 how they should be disciplined in their ability to not foul as much as they 812 00:56:22.519 --> 00:56:28.119 had been fouling and the silly types of fouls that they found themselves in during 813 00:56:28.320 --> 00:56:30.840 the course of their runs. What I'm saying, Shaw is you're not gonna 814 00:56:30.840 --> 00:56:36.719 put any any investment and changing up the dynamic. You definitely have to put 815 00:56:36.719 --> 00:56:39.920 the investment on suring up what got them in trouble to begin with. And 816 00:56:40.000 --> 00:56:44.280 again, this is gonna rear its ugly head if you're going to continue to 817 00:56:44.400 --> 00:56:47.039 roll out both Go Bear and Towns, the both of them cannot get in 818 00:56:47.079 --> 00:56:52.159 the kind of foul trouble that they consistently get themselves in. And this has 819 00:56:52.199 --> 00:56:54.880 been plaguing them their whole career so far. This isn't just a one out 820 00:56:54.880 --> 00:56:59.440 of the ordinary thing or just because of Dallas Mavericks had the kind of matchups 821 00:56:59.440 --> 00:57:02.840 they've had. This has been a problem that is plagued both Go Bear and 822 00:57:04.039 --> 00:57:08.000 Towns through their career. And it rears its ugly head when you're validating them 823 00:57:08.039 --> 00:57:12.400 forgetting an award to getting accolades, people are like, why are they getting 824 00:57:12.400 --> 00:57:15.920 these accolades? They can't even stay on a basketball court long enough. And 825 00:57:15.000 --> 00:57:19.280 to me, that is something that is going to be critical in this offseason 826 00:57:19.280 --> 00:57:23.320 if they expect to take the next step. I will only encounter that with 827 00:57:23.400 --> 00:57:28.800 the aspect of like when you have four bigs but he's the same way too. 828 00:57:28.880 --> 00:57:30.840 You know, he's the same way too. Like it's just like, 829 00:57:30.960 --> 00:57:34.239 I mean, how are they going to play all those guys? And I 830 00:57:34.239 --> 00:57:37.440 think if you're using it as an insurance model, then then surely, but 831 00:57:37.880 --> 00:57:39.920 it would be difficult, I think, to get all those guys that the 832 00:57:39.920 --> 00:57:44.000 records at minutes. Unless you're saying they continue to be in foul trouble, 833 00:57:44.159 --> 00:57:46.719 then you have that more of that rotation going in. To me, Minnesota 834 00:57:46.719 --> 00:57:50.920 doesn't necessarily need more defense. They might need more size, but they don't 835 00:57:50.920 --> 00:57:53.440 necessarily need more defense as much as they need more scoring. And where I 836 00:57:53.440 --> 00:57:58.159 don't care where it comes from, because when when Towns is and when Towns 837 00:57:58.239 --> 00:58:00.199 is in foul trouble, then it's just and really just trying to do it 838 00:58:00.199 --> 00:58:02.719 by himself. And you know, nos Reed is not creating a whole lot 839 00:58:02.719 --> 00:58:07.119 offense for himself. To me, they need some more wing shooting. But 840 00:58:07.159 --> 00:58:09.800 then you're saying, but you're saying and then you're saying they should resign Kyle 841 00:58:09.880 --> 00:58:14.280 Anderson and money and and Mini Morris. Why do that when they should really 842 00:58:14.280 --> 00:58:16.320 just okay, okay, I thought that's what you're saying, that they're gonna 843 00:58:17.119 --> 00:58:19.840 Oh no, but that's what I'm saying, Like in the beginning, you 844 00:58:19.840 --> 00:58:22.079 made it sound like you wanted them to get you know, they're gonna have 845 00:58:22.119 --> 00:58:24.119 to resign those like they don't have to resign those guys. To your point, 846 00:58:24.159 --> 00:58:28.280 they're gonna need they're gonna need more shooting. But I also believe as 847 00:58:28.280 --> 00:58:31.800 well it's easier for them. But what I'm saying, Shan is I don't 848 00:58:31.800 --> 00:58:36.199 mind them going out getting themselves a three and D guy if the guy does 849 00:58:36.239 --> 00:58:38.840 shoot the three at a high clip. But it's somebody that you can leave 850 00:58:38.880 --> 00:58:44.360 on the basketball court because Townsend Go Bear and nos Reed can't keep themselves out 851 00:58:44.400 --> 00:58:49.639 of foul trouble. I don't know if nas Reed has the same Paul trouble 852 00:58:49.639 --> 00:58:53.239 that that, but I a cat is by far and away the worst. 853 00:58:54.159 --> 00:58:58.320 No, no, no, please, no, I don't know. I 854 00:58:58.320 --> 00:59:00.599 didn't found like that. I mean, I'm like, that's definitely and that's 855 00:59:00.639 --> 00:59:05.880 definitely his movements for sure. So uh anyway, you know, it's it's 856 00:59:06.000 --> 00:59:08.440 I don't want to tear them down too much. They awesome, Seeds, 857 00:59:08.840 --> 00:59:14.639 awesome SA League this entire season, best defensive team in terms of at least 858 00:59:14.639 --> 00:59:17.559 on paper and net rating, et cetera, et cetera, UH second and 859 00:59:17.639 --> 00:59:21.920 Coach of the Year, Mike County one, Teammate of the Year, more 860 00:59:21.960 --> 00:59:24.400 Defensive Player of the Year, a lot of accolades for this Minnesota Timberwolves team. 861 00:59:24.440 --> 00:59:28.960 And that's why it perplexes me when some say you but some say, 862 00:59:28.960 --> 00:59:30.079 oh, they need to break it up because you know they're never going to 863 00:59:30.159 --> 00:59:32.559 go any further than this. It's like, you didn't think they'd be here. 864 00:59:32.599 --> 00:59:36.000 Do you think they'd even be here? So, like, why would 865 00:59:36.000 --> 00:59:39.880 they listen to anybody else? This side is with a twenty two year old 866 00:59:39.880 --> 00:59:46.760 player like Anthony Edwards, he can keep that together because he can essentially make 867 00:59:46.880 --> 00:59:50.960 them better. It's a question of do they want to be better and when 868 00:59:50.960 --> 00:59:52.000 they get to a point where they can do it on their own shot, 869 00:59:52.039 --> 00:59:55.800 that's what's gonna make the Minnesota Timberwolves a championship caliber team. But in the 870 00:59:55.840 --> 01:00:01.000 meantime, ride that young gun right now. Just ride that young gun and 871 01:00:01.079 --> 01:00:06.400 build around the fact that they have to improve on the things that unfortunately failed 872 01:00:06.400 --> 01:00:09.320 them in their run to the NBA Finals. It's been an awesome show. 873 01:00:09.360 --> 01:00:14.280 My man, good stuff. Man. We covered one we covered two teams 874 01:00:14.280 --> 01:00:16.800 alive. We called two live body teams that are still standing, and we 875 01:00:16.880 --> 01:00:22.639 covered two dead teams. I'm telling you, man, nobody crosses things over 876 01:00:22.719 --> 01:00:24.519 better than us. Maybe Beatle Juice, but nobody crosses a living in the 877 01:00:24.559 --> 01:00:30.760 debt better than this. Man. I'm excited for the NBA Finals over our 878 01:00:30.760 --> 01:00:34.400 fends and listeners are as well. Please let us know your predictions, you 879 01:00:34.440 --> 01:00:36.960 know, Celtics, MAVs, I'm gon. Let us know your thoughts on 880 01:00:37.480 --> 01:00:39.440 the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Innna Pacers and what they should potentially do in the 881 01:00:39.480 --> 01:00:43.599 off season. But it was nice to see these four teams being the elite 882 01:00:43.639 --> 01:00:45.719 of the elite, while not all of them were expected to be here. 883 01:00:45.800 --> 01:00:49.360 We got what we got and I still think that there's a lot to be 884 01:00:49.400 --> 01:00:52.320 taken away from what these teams we're able to do, and that hopefully what 885 01:00:52.400 --> 01:00:58.519 will be absolutely man and once again a NBA Finals. Still there all kinds 886 01:00:58.519 --> 01:01:01.960 of sports, WNBA and majorly baseball, tennis. There's so much going on, 887 01:01:02.320 --> 01:01:06.039 so if you're a person who likes to get in on the action, 888 01:01:06.159 --> 01:01:08.800 make sure you go to Prize Picks. Remember use the promo code c LNS 889 01:01:09.360 --> 01:01:15.079 and then first Bet one hundred match deposit, so don't forget to do that. 890 01:01:15.239 --> 01:01:16.760 Get in on it, get in with us man. We will probably 891 01:01:16.760 --> 01:01:21.519 get down on it as well too, with the NBA Finals just around the 892 01:01:21.559 --> 01:01:23.920 corner. For the baseline, Cali Warrenshaw, we appreciate you, guys. 893 01:01:23.920 --> 01:01:28.480 Thanks popping on board with us this week. Catch up with you next time.